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Graphic Policy Radio

E.X.O. – The Legend of Wale Williams, a superhero story set in a futuristic 2025 Africa, follows Wale Williams, an impetuous young adult who inherits a suit with super powers after his father goes missing. Tricked into returning home to Lagoon City, Nigeria following a five year absence, Wale embarks on a journey to investigate his father s mysterious disappearance. As he comes to understand the suit’s powers, Wale realizes he must restore hope to his city by preventing catastrophic attacks from the sociopathic, Oniku, leader of an extremist group called The CREED.

On this episode of Graphic Policy Radio, we discuss the comic series with creator Roye Okupe.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Okupe is a creative specialist who holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in computer science from The George Washington University. His passion for animation led him to found YouNeek Studios in 2012, an avenue that would allow him pursue his dream of creating a diverse library of superheroes. Under that umbrella, Roye wrote, produced and directed several animated productions including, but not limited to, 2D/3D animated short films, TV commercials, show openers, music videos and much more. These productions have allowed Roye to attain much prestigious recognition such as being #5 on Ventures Africa’s list of 40 African innovators to watch.

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E.X.O. – The Legend of Wale Williams, a superhero story set in a futuristic 2025 Africa, follows Wale Williams, an impetuous young adult who inherits a suit with super powers after his father goes missing. Tricked into returning home to Lagoon City, Nigeria following a five year absence, Wale embarks on a journey to investigate his father s mysterious disappearance. As he comes to understand the suit s powers, Wale realizes he must restore hope to his city by preventing catastrophic attacks from the sociopathic, Oniku, leader of an extremist group called The CREED.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Okupe is a creative specialist who holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in computer science from The George Washington University. His passion for animation led him to found YouNeek Studios in 2012, an avenue that would allow him pursue his dream of creating a diverse library of superheroes. Under that umbrella, Roye wrote, produced and directed several animated productions including, but not limited to, 2D/3D animated short films, TV commercials, show openers, music videos and much more. These productions have allowed Roye to attain much prestigious recognition such as being #5 on Ventures Africa’s list of 40 African innovators to watch.

With the superhero genre currently at the height of popularity, Roye has made it a goal to create a connected universe of heroes, with origins from locations that are currently neglected and/or ignored. In August 2015, Roye released his debut graphic novel titled: E.X.O. The Legend of Wale Williams Part One, a superhero story set in a futuristic Nigeria. E.X.O. was received with critical acclaim and has since been featured on CNN, Forbes, The New York Times, NBC, The Guardian, ABC7, BBC, The Huffington Post, Mashabe and more!

Since the election of Donald Trump as President many have been wondering what they can do to make their voice heard, get involved to fight what may be coming, and fight against the hate that’s been unleashed. Many in entertainment and fandom have been voicing their displeasure with the election and are working to add not just their voices but also their talent to the mix. Joining this politically focused episode of Graphic Policy Radio is Andrew Slack, co-founder of the Harry Potter Alliance, and Rafael Shimunov, the Creative Director at Working Families Party. Both will talk about some of their plans and give ideas on how you can get involved.

Andrew Slack is the creator and co-founder of the Harry Potter Alliance, Odds In Our Favor, Superman Is An Immigrant, The Rebel Alliance, and now the Hamilton Alliance as he builds a network called imagine Better. He’s the Civic Imagination Fellow at Civic Hall. His work is focused on using the power of stories to unleash the civic imagination through a methodology he calls “cultural acupuncture.” Follow him on Twitter @andrewslack.

Rafael Shimunov is the Creative Director at Working Families Party, a growing progressive party that works inside and outside of the Democratic Party by challenging corporate Democrats with progressive Democrats. Follow him on Twitter @rafaelshimunov.

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Since the election of Donald Trump as President many have been wondering what they can do to make their voice heard, get involved to fight what may be coming, and fight against the hate that’s been unleashed. Many in entertainment and fandom have been voicing their displeasure with the election and are working to add not just their voices but also their talent to the mix. Joining this politically focused episode of Graphic Policy Radio is Andrew Slack, co-founder of the Harry Potter Alliance, and Rafael Shimunov, the Creative Director at Working Families Party. Both will talk about some of their plans and give ideas on how you can get involved.

Andrew Slack is the creator and co-founder of the Harry Potter Alliance, Odds In Our Favor, Superman Is An Immigrant, The Rebel Alliance, and now the Hamilton Alliance as he builds a network called imagine Better. He’s the Civic Imagination Fellow at Civic Hall. His work is focused on using the power of stories to unleash the civic imagination through a methodology he calls “cultural acupuncture.” Follow him on Twitter @andrewslack.

Rafael Shimunov is the Creative Director at Working Families Party, a growing progressive party that works inside and outside of the Democratic Party by challenging corporate Democrats with progressive Democrats. Follow him on Twitter @rafaelshimunov.

In a world that already hates and fears them – what if only Black people had superpowers?

After miraculously surviving being gunned down by police, a young man learns that he is part of the biggest lie in history. Now he must decide whether it’s safer to keep it a secret or if the truth will set him free.

This Monday we welcomed two of the individuals behind the comic series Black on Graphic Policy Radio. Kwanza Osajyefo and Tim Smith 3 will join us to talk about the series published by Black Mask Studios and which saw the second issue recently released after selling out the 22,000 copy print run of the first.

Creator and author of Black, Kwanza Osajyefo was a digital editor at both Marvel and DC Comics – best known for launching the latter’s Zuda imprint, which published series like the award-winning Bayou, High Moon, Night Owls, as well as Superton, Celadore, Black Cherry Bombshells, Bottle of Awesome, and I Rule the Night.

Co-creator and designer of Black, Tim Smith 3 (A.K.A. TS3), has been working in the comic industry for over 15 years. He created and self-published Red After the Party, and has worked on hit titles for publishers such as Marvel, Archie, and DC, just to name a few!

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In a world that already hates and fears them – what if only Black people had superpowers?

After miraculously surviving being gunned down by police, a young man learns that he is part of the biggest lie in history. Now he must decide whether it’s safer to keep it a secret or if the truth will set him free.

This Monday we have two of the individuals behind the comic series Black on Graphic Policy Radio. Kwanza Osajyefo and Tim Smith 3 will join us to talk about the series published by Black Mask Studios and which saw the second issue recently released after selling out the 22,000 copy print run of the first.

Creator and author of Black, Kwanza Osajyefo was a digital editor at both Marvel and DC Comics – best known for launching the latter’s Zuda imprint, which published series like the award-winning Bayou, High Moon, Night Owls, as well as Superton, Celadore, Black Cherry Bombshells, Bottle of Awesome, and I Rule the Night.

Co-creator and designer of Black, Tim Smith 3 (A.K.A. TS3), has been working in the comic industry for over 15 years. He created and self-published Red After the Party, and has worked on hit titles for publishers such as Marvel, Archie, and DC, just to name a few!

We want to hear your questions! Tweet them to us @graphicpolicy and listen in live this Monday.

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On this episode of Graphic Policy RadioTini Howard and Devaki Neogi join us to talk about their brand new comic book series The Skeptics from Black Mask Studios.

The Skeptics is a stylish, political adventure about a pair of hip, clever teens who fool the world into believing they have superpowers. It is the 1960s. The Russians have the A-bomb, the H-bomb, and now the most terrifying weapon of all: a pair of psychically superpowered young people. Terrified and desperate, the US top brass scours from coast to coast in search of psychic Americans. Enter Dr. Isobel Santaclara, an eccentric illusionist and grifter who has recruited two teenagers and trained them to trick the US government, the Russians, and the whole world into believing they are dangerous psychics. The Skeptics is a pre-punk period piece, a sort of honest, unfuzzy, non-nostalgic look at the Cold War in DC.

Writer Tini Howard debuted as a contributor to the hugely successful Kickstarter The Secret Loves Of Geek Girls and was a winner of the Top Cow Talent Hunt before co-creating The Skeptics. She is also currently killing it on Power Rangers: Pink, Magdalena, & she is 1/3 of the Black Mask Witches.

Artist Devaki Neogi is a self-taught illustrator with a background in fashion who rose to power when she crushed it on the mini-series Curb Stomp. She joined the Black Mask Family with her beloved Kim & Kim covers before co-creating The Skeptics.

The Skeptics is a stylish, political adventure about a pair of hip, clever teens who fool the world into believing they have superpowers. It is the 1960s. The Russians have the A-bomb, the H-bomb, and now the most terrifying weapon of all: a pair of psychically superpowered young people. Terrified and desperate, the US top brass scours from coast to coast in search of psychic Americans. Enter Dr. Isobel Santaclara, an eccentric illusionist and grifter who has recruited two teenagers and trained them to trick the US government, the Russians, and the whole world into believing they are dangerous psychics. The Skeptics is a pre-punk period piece, a sort of honest, unfuzzy, non-nostalgic look at the Cold War in DC.

Writer Tini Howard debuted as a contributor to the hugely successful Kickstarter The Secret Loves Of Geek Girls and was a winner of the Top Cow Talent Hunt before co-creating The Skeptics. She is also currently killing it on Power Rangers: Pink, Magdalena, & she is 1/3 of the Black Mask Witches.

Artist Devaki Neogi is a self-taught illustrator with a background in fashion who rose to power when she crushed it on the mini-series Curb Stomp. She joined the Black Mask Family with her beloved Kim & Kim covers before co-creating The Skeptics.

We’ll discuss all that and more on this brand new episode. We want to hear from you! Tweet us your questions @graphicpolicy.

September saw the release of the first issue of Surgeon X, a new series written by Sara Kenney with art by John Watkiss. The comic series also sees the return of legendary editor Karen Berger.

The series dives into real world medicine and issues, along with a companion app, we talk to Berger about her return to comics, the challenges of this particular comic and its app, and her insights into the comic industry.

Karen is the award-winning and founding editor of the Vertigo imprint of DC Comics. As an industry leader of creative risk-taking and innovative comics storytelling in a wide range of genre fiction, Karen led Vertigo for 20 years, transforming the comics medium by publishing many of the most acclaimed and best-selling comics and graphic novels in the past two decades: Sandman, V for Vendetta, Swamp Thing, Preacher, Fables, Hellblazer, Y–the Last Man, 100 Bullets, The Invisibles, and Transmetropolitan.

Surgeon X dives into real world medicine and issues, along with a companion app, we talk to Berger about her return to comics, the challenges of this particular comic and its app, and her insights into the comic industry.

Karen is the award-winning and founding editor of the Vertigo imprint of DC Comics. As an industry leader of creative risk-taking and innovative comics storytelling in a wide range of genre fiction, Karen led Vertigo for 20 years, transforming the comics medium by publishing many of the most acclaimed and best-selling comics and graphic novels in the past two decades: Sandman, V for Vendetta, Swamp Thing, Preacher, Fables, Hellblazer, Y–the Last Man, 100 Bullets, The Invisibles, and Transmetropolitan.

Graphic Policy believes in journalistic integrity and transparency. We will disclose when a product has been given for free for review and/or when no cost has been incurred to the staff so that you may be able to make a fully informed decision as to the opinions provided.

When a product has been provided for free you will see disclosure at the bottom of the article. When such a disclosure does not exist, you can assume that the items have been purchased for review.